The Coach: Three favourable fixtures on Matchday 21

Highlights – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund

I will be the first to admit that I love a good underdog story, and Matchday 20 was full of them. However, when it comes to Official Fantasy Bundesliga, I don’t love it when my star players underperform and I get my predictions wrong!

Anthony Modeste was the only player in my squad to hit double digits, while my three favourable fixtures all went against me. From a coach’s perspective that just isn’t good enough. Cuts will be made, replacements will be found and I’ve got my eye on these three fixtures to help me bounce back on Matchday 21.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs SV Darmstadt 98

Last week, I backed Hoffenheim and bet against Darmstadt. While neither of those predictions panned out, I still feel confident that the Sinsheim side will bounce back to winning ways on home soil this weekend. Julian Nagelsmann’s charges are unbeaten on their own patch, while the Lilies have lost nine out of nine of the road this season, scoring just four goals in the process. Everything points to comfortable win for Hoffenheim!

Player recommendations
Ermin Bicakcic (DF, 24pts, 6.8M): With Benjamin Hübner suspended, Bicakcic should slot into Hoffenheim’s three-man backline and is worth consideration as a budget defender.

Sandro Wagner (FW, 160pts, 14.4M): Back from suspension and with a slight price drop behind him, I’m backing Wagner for big things against his former club and so should you!

Eintracht Frankfurt vs FC Ingolstadt 04

Frankfurt hit a bump in the road in the 3-0 loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but don’t expect a repeat at the Commerzbank Arena, where they have picked up 21 points from a possible 27 in 2016/17. The Eagles have conceded less than a goal a game in front of home support, while Ingolstadt have scored just seven times in 10 away games. Die Schanzer were unlucky to lose to Bayern last time out, but one win in five is worrying form for the cellar dwellers.

Player recommendations

Jesus Vallejo (DF, 108pts, 7.2M): The cheapest member of Frankfurt’s three-man backline, Vallejo has picked up an average of 10 points in Frankfurt’s last three wins.

Ante Rebic (FW, 54pts, 3.3M): A risky recommendation considering he didn’t start against Leverkusen, but is worth a gamble based on his 13-point haul on Matchday 19.

Hamburger SV vs SC Freiburg

Hamburg have a way of impressing just when you think you can write them off. Since the turn of the year, HSV have upset the odds with wins over Leverkusen and Leipzig, but also dropped points against Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt. So surely they’ll struggle at home to Freiburg, right? No. Only Bayern and Gladbach have picked up more points in 2017 and with their new-found defensive stability, I’m backing Hamburg to buck the trend on Saturday.

Player recommendations

Mergim Mavraj (DF, 139pts, 10M): What no Papadopoulos? Well here’s why: you can’t expect ‘Papa’ to score every weekend and without his two goals, Marvraj would have outscored him by 6 points!

Nicolai Müller (MF, 139pts, 12.95M): Müller is the joint-fifth highest scoring midfielder in the game. He wins over 10 challenges per game and has scored 42 points in his last four starts.

For some potentially superb low-budget signings, keep an eye on how Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel may rotate his squad for the home game against Wolfsburg. For now, though, use those transfers wisely!